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Australian Company Announces Successful Results of Bird Flu Vaccine Trial

Posted on: Saturday, 18 February 2006, 09:00 CST

Australian company announces successful results of bird flu vaccine trial

CANBERRA, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- An Australian company's preliminary results from its human clinical trial of a pandemic influenza vaccine showed that it is possible to vaccinate people against the bird flu virus using existing technology, Australian Health Minister Tony Abbott said Friday.

Australia's CSL Ltd announced earlier in the day the results from its clinical trial of a pandemic influenza vaccine based on the H5N1 bird flu virus.

According to CSL reports, two doses of vaccine, used in conjunction with a stimulant or adjuvant, can produce an immune response to the virus.

The company has stated that further research is needed to determine the optimal doses of vaccine.

Abbott said the vaccine will be tested in a wider range of age groups to ensure safety and a sufficient immune response in the young and elderly.

"The Howard Government provided $4.93 million (3.65 million U.S. dollars) to fast track this trial. Today's results are an important step in Australia's efforts to ensure it has the capacity to rapidly develop a vaccine on-shore to respond to a possible influenza pandemic," Abbott said in a statement.

"Australia is one of the most prepared countries in the world to respond to an outbreak of avian influenza or an influenza pandemic," he said.

Since the emergence of avian influenza in Asia in 2003, the Australian government has committed a total of 555 million Australian dollars (410 million U.S. dollars) on avian influenza and pandemic preparedness measures, including 141 million dollars (105 million U.S. dollars) to help its regional neighbors, according to Abbott.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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